Expression of P50 and P65 proteins of nuclear transcription factor kappa B in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue

Aim: To study the relationship between expressions of P50 and P65 proteins of nuclear transcription factor kappa B(NF-κB)and the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: SP immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expressions of P50 and P65 proteins of NF-κB in 49 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma specimens and their adjacent mucosas(32 cases of normal esophageal epithelium, 33 cases of simple hyperplasia epithelium, 19 cases of mild atypical hyperplasia epithelium, 14 cases of severe atypical hyperplasia epithelium, and 12 cases of carcinoma in situ). Results: The positive rates of P50 protein expression in the normal esophageal epithelium, simple hyperplasia epithelium, mild atypical hyperplasia epithelium, severe atypical hyperplasia epithelium, carcinoma in situ, and infiltrated carcinoma were 0%(0/32), 36.36%(12/33), 57.89%(11/19), 64.29%(9/14), 50.00%(6/12), 71.43%(35/49), respectively. There was significant difference among the normal epithelium, the simple hyperplasia epithelium, mild atypical hyperplasia epithelium, severe atypical hyperplasia epithelium, carcinoma in situ, and infiltrated carcinoma (P0.01). The positive rates of P65 protein expression in the normal esophageal epithelium, simple hyperplasia epithelium, mild atypical hyperplasia epithelium, severe atypical hyperplasia epithelium, carcinoma in situ, and infiltrated carcinoma were 6.25%(2/32),18.18%(6/33),36.84%(7/19),42.86%(6/14),58.33%(7/12),57.14%(28/49), respectively. There was significant difference between the normal epithelium and the mild atypical hyperplasia epithelium, severe atypical hyperplasia epithelium, carcinoma in situ, and infiltrated carcinoma (P0.01). There was no relationship among the positive expression of P50 and P65 protein and the tumor grade, infiltration,and lymphatic metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(P0.05). There was no relationship between the positive rate of P50 protein expression and that of P65 protein expression (P0.05). Conclusion: The expression of P50 and P65 proteins of NF-κB may be correlated with the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.